Case Study: Lulu (pseudonym) is a teacher at the Beijing Dance Academy. Her students consistently achieve outstanding results, and she is annually recognized as an outstanding teacher at the school. She herself possesses the qualities of a top-tier dancer—tall and slender, fair-skinned, with a sweet voice and a pleasant personality—excelling in every aspect. Moreover, when faced with challenging tasks at the school, administrators often seek her counsel because she is always willing to take on more demanding responsibilities.Seeing others' admiring glances filled Lulu with immense satisfaction. In her eyes, nothing seemed daunting; her sense of self-superiority empowered her, though it also drew envy from some who found her arrogant or self-important. But Lulu called it "moderate self-confidence," and she felt quite content with it.Analysis: Zhang Yuanxia, a licensed psychologist practicing in New York, explains that the "moderate arrogance" Lulu mentions differs from the pride or arrogance we commonly discuss. Pride or arrogance is an instinctive human reaction—what we often call a lack of self-awareness—and represents a negative emotional experience. Moderate arrogance, however, falls under the realm of positive psychology abroad.
Foreign psychologists have studied individuals with delusions of grandeur. These patients often believe themselves to be reincarnated superhumans with supernatural powers, or claim to possess vast fortunes despite being penniless. While medication can suppress these delusions, many patients subsequently become depressed.Researchers discovered that when individuals completely lose all sense of self-importance, they become hesitant to assess their own capabilities more highly when confronting reality. Consequently, they often lack confidence when participating in social competition. While this example may seem extreme, it reflects a fundamental truth: people need a certain degree of self-importance.
Psychologically speaking, moderate self-importance allows individuals to recognize their positive, affirming qualities. For those prone to pessimism and negativity, it serves as an effective psychological therapy. Through repeated self-affirmation and external support, moderate self-importance gradually reshapes habitual self-perceptions, helping individuals discover their inner strength and cultivate the confidence and habits necessary for personal transformation.